Feeding mechanism for bottle-capping machines.



G. KIRKBGAARD. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BOTTLE OAPPING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.16, 1908.

96%,G8Q Patented June 21,1910. 57 LL44 .22 if l 15 g E 29 [Z 1 43Mme/00% Z] Vl UQ wtor :trocluced, by hand, in proper position.

GEORG KIRKE GAA RD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO IMPERIAL STOPPER.COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BOTTLE-CAPPING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 'June21, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEoRe' KIRKEGAARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of New York, in, the borough of Brooklyn and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFeeding Mechanism for Bottle-.

been common to employ a reciprocating capping head into which the bottlecaps are in- This operationof supplying the caps to the cappingmechanism, however, is slow, laborious and consequently expensive, andthe primary object of my invention is to provide means for automaticallycollecting the caps from a mass in a hopper or, other receptacle andcontinuously delivering them in proper position to the capping mechanismof the capping machine.

In carrying out my invention I employ, in

connection with a hopper into which the bottle caps are looselysupplied, a rotary cap-collecting and delivering Wheel, provided withsuitable means, such as permanent magnctsi, for attracting and elevatingthe caps one by one from the mass and delivering them into-a chute whichleads to the capping head of the capping machine. I employ a motor foractuating this wheel in WhlCh the power for operation is automaticallystored up during each reciprocating movement of they capping-head, and Ialso provide means for regul'atingthe extent of operation of this .motorfor controlling the de reeof rotation of the cap-collecting anddeFivering wheel during each operation of the capgnng machine. I alsoprovide novel means or insuring the proper positioning of the caps on,the periphery of the cap-collect ing and delivering wheel and means forreventing the 'ammin of two or more caps etween said w eel an the wallsof the cas ing in which said wheel rotates.

The details of the invention will hereinafter appear and the novelfeatures thereof will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of the specification: Figure -1 isasectional elevation of a bottle capping machine showing my improvedfeeding mechanism for the caps applied thereto; Fig. 2 is an elevationof the same at right angles to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail viewof the cap-collecting and delivering wheel and the casing in which it ismounted; Fig. e is a. detail View of the gravity motor, and Fig. 5 is asectional detail view, showing in elevation the positioning gate for thecaps.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

My improvements have been shown in connection with a cappin machinecomprising a hollow standard 1 aving an adjustable table 2 on one sidethereof on which the bottles to be capped are laced. Above the table 2is a capping hea 3 shown as connected with a cylinder 4 whichreciprocates inan opening in an adjustable bracket 5 on the standard 1.This cylinder is connected to an arm 6 on the upper end of a verticallyreciprocating rod 7 extending down through the hollow stem 1. In theoperation of this machine the bottle caps are delivered to the cappinghead 3, and, during the reciprocation of said head, said'caps'areapplied to the. bottles which are successively placed upon vthe table 2..r v

My improved cap-feeding -mechanism comprises a circular casing 8 locatedabove and secured to the capping mechanism so as to be verticallyreciprocated therewith. The

front of the casing 8 is preferably closed by I a sheet 9 of transparentmaterial, such as glass, and communicating with said casing is a hopper10 into which the metallic bottle caps are indiscriminately placed.Extendcular wall ofthe casing 8, above the wheel 13, is a strip of metalor other suitable material whose inner surface is separated I slightlyfrom the periphery of the wheel 13 forming a circular passage 16. Alsosecured to the inner surface. of the cylindrical wall of the casing 8,but below the'wheel 13, is

a strip 17 whose inner surface, throughout a portion of its length, hasbeen shown substantially in contact with the periphery of the wheel 13.One end of the strip 17 is slightly separated from the adjacent por- 1tion of the strip .15 and the space between the two forms a continuationof the passage 16. From the passage 16 leads a chute 18 whichcommunicates at its lower end with the cappin head 3. The upper surfaceof the strip 1 is cut away as shown at 19 to provide space within thecasing 8 for the reception of the caps which flow from, the

hopper 10. Above this cutaway portion 19' is located a flexible strip 20of sheet metal or other suitable material which is secured termed acap-positioning gate 24. This gate has a slot and pinconnection25 withthe strip 15 so that it is radially movable with respect to the wheel13, the same being normally held down in engagement with the peripheryof said wheel by a spring 26. Said gate has an opening27in its lower endwhich corresponds in shape with the cross section of the cap employed,that is to say, the opening is wider at the top than it is I .at thebottom. and is provided with inclined side walls. Said gate24is alsoformed with projections 28.on eachside which fit down into the grooves22 in the wheel 13 andare I adapted-to be engaged by the lugs 23 in saidgrooves.

The wheel 13 has a rotary movement imparted to it during the intervalsbetween the capping operations of the capping machine, that is, when thecapping mechanism .3, 4, is being-elevated. This movement is effected bya gravity motor 29 consisting essentially of a pinion 30 on the shaft12, a rack 31 meshing-with said pinion, and a weight 32 on said rack.The pinion. 30, whileloose on the shaft 12, hasa pawl and ratchetconnection 33 with a disk 34 fast on the shaft 12, so that while saidpinion 30 ma be turned in one direction independcut y of said shaft,when moved in the other direction it turns said shaft with it. Forcontrolling 'the speedof movement of the wheel 13 when the motor 29 isthrown into 32 is then elevated of? operation, an escapement I 35 isemployed which cooperates with a gear 36, in turn connected through thegears 37 and 38 with a" pinion 39 on the shaft 12. The weight 32- 'islocated directly above the bracket 5 and is adapted to engage the sameduring the downward movement of the capping mechanism, and the stem ofthe rack 31 to which the weight 32 is connected extends up through thecasing 40, in which the gears described are housed, and carries anadjustable stop 41. This stop may be adjusted at any point along thestem of the rack '31 so as to limit the movement in one direction of thecasing 40 and the rack 31 with respect to each other. In this way thedistance which the Wheel 13 is caused to rotate during each operation ofthe motor 29 may be accurately controlled in accordance with theconditions under which the machineis operating; the

aforesaid parts hence constituting time element means for controllingthe. gravity motor.

From the foregoing description it is thought that the operation of myimproved feeding mechanism will be understood. Briefly stated, however,it is as follows: Viththehopper 10 filled with metallic caps of the kinddescribed, some of which are resting upon the flexible bottom 20 of thecasing 8,. and with the parts in the positions in which they are shownin Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the capping head 3 is moved downwardlyto apply a capto the bottle resting on the table 2. As the casing 8 andthe other parts of my improved" mechanism are connected with the cappingmechanism, they will also be moved downwardly during the cappingoperation. At

such time the weight 32 comes in contact.

with the bracket 5 and its movement is arrested. The continued downwardmovement of the casing 40 causes the upper end of the latter to passdown to a point below'the sto 41, the pinion 30 freely rotating on thesha t 12 through the engagement 0 the rack 31 ceding therewith. Upon theupward movement of the capping mechanism, a corresponding movement ofthe feeding mechanism attached thereto is brou ht about. The. weight gthe bracket 5, but as the stop 41 and the casing 40 have been separatedfrom each other, the weight 32 is free to descend by gravity inopposition to the movement of the rest of the apparatus. In so doing thewheel 13 is caused to rotate,

through the action of the rack 31 upon the pinion 3t) and the ratchetconnection between said pinion and the disk 34 on the shaft 12. Thisrotation of the wheel 13 con-- tinues until thestop 41 again comes incontact with the top of 'thecasing 40. The

wheel 13 moves in the direction of the arrow, and in th1 s movement theexposed portion of the periphery of'said wheel passes through. the massof caps on the bottom 20. Oneonmore of these caps are attracted to theperiphery of said wheel by the magnets 1 l4 and are lifted from the massand carried against the periphery of the wheel 13- vIf they assume thisposition naturally on the.

periphery of the wheel, they are free to passthrough the opening 27 inthe positioning gate 24, as sald opening 27 corresponds in shape withthe cross section of one of the caps lying against the wheel 13 in theposition described. If the cap is not exactly centrally disposed on theperiphery of the wheel 13, it will be given itsproper position thereonby the engagement of its side edges with the inclined side walls vof theopening 27. If the cap has been attracted to the periphery of the wheel13 in the opposite position, that is, with its flange adjacent theperiphery of the wheel, said cap cannot pass through the opening 27 andit will either be inverted by the gate 24 or entirely stripped from thewheel 13 by the engagement of the gate therewith. This construction andarrangement of parts absolutely insures the proper positioning of thecaps on the wheel 13 prior to their entrance to the passage 16. It maysometimes happen that two or more caps may be attracted by one of the maets 14,and held against the periphery o the wheel 13 i inclinedposition, one upon the other, and t ereby cause a-jamming between thewheel 13 and the gate 24. To overcomethis difficulty, the lugs 23 havebeen provided which are located just behind the magnets 14 so that inthe event of jamming betweenthe wheel 13 and the gate 24, said gate will.be forced outwardly and separated from the wheel 13 by the engagementof said lugs with the projections 28 on said gate. As this separation ktakes placeafter the magnets, have passed said gate, the 'ca s whichare; thus released are beyond t e attractive; power of the magnets bywhich they were formerly held and are free to'drop back onto the bottom20. i The said bottom 20 has been made flexible or yielding in order toprevent a jamming of the caps in the bottom of the casing 8 sh that themagnets 24 would not be free to act upon them.

Having described my invention,I claim 2-- 1. The combination with abottle capping machine, of cap feeding mechanism therefor, andindependently operating means, antomatically thrown into operation, fordriving said feeding mechanism.

2. The combination with a bottle capping for, independently operatingmeans auto matically thrown 1nto operatlon for driving said feedingmechanism, and time element means for controlling said operating means.

3. The combination with a bottle cappingmachine, of cap feedingmechanism therefor,

I machine, of a cap feeding mechanism therean independently operatingmotor for driv- 4 ing said feeding mechanism, and means for throwingsaid motor into operation when the capping operation has been completed.

4. The combination with a bottle capping machine, of cap feedingmechanism therefor, an independently operating motor for driving saidfeeding mechanism, and means for automatically storing up energy in saidmotor during the capping operation of said machine and for throwing saidmotor into operation when the capping operation has been completed.

5. The combination with a bottle capping machine, of cap feeding-mechanism therefor, a motor for drivingsaid feeding mechanism, meansfor intermittently said motor into operation, and time element means forregulating the duration or extent of each intermittent operation of saidmotor.

6. The combination with a bottle capping machine, of cap feedingmechanism carrie by a movable part-of said machine, and an'independently operating motor for driving throwing from said fixed part,to throw the motor into action, after the capping operation has beencompleted.

I 7. The combination with a bottle capping machine, of cap feedingmechanism carried by a movable part of said machine, and a gravity motorfor driving said feeding mech- 'anlsm, the said motor comprising apinion and a weighted rack meshing therewith, the said rack beingadapted to engage a fixed part of the machine when the feeding mechanismis moved in one direction, for storin up power in said motor, and beingfree from engagement with said fixed part, for

-with, the said rack being adapted to engage a fixed; part of themachlne when the feeding mechamsm is moved in one direction, for storinup power in said motor and being freed from en agement with said fixedpart, for starting t e motor,- when the feeding mechanism is moved inthe opposite direcstarting the motor, when the feeding mechtion, and anadjustable stop for limiting the downward movement of said rack.

9. Feeding mechanism for bottle capping machines, comprisinga rotary capcollecting and delivering wheel, and means for imparting intermittently,a predetermined move ment thereto.

10. Feeding mechanism for bottle capping.

machines, comprising a rotary cap collecting and deliver ng whee andmeans having a recess therein for insuring the proper posltioning of thecaps on said wheel, the. sides of said recess engagin ,.when necessary,the

' sides of improperly p aced caps.

said wheel, as and for'the purpose set forth. 14. Feeding mechanism forbottle capping 11. Feeding mechanism for bottle capping machines,comprisin a rotary cap collecting anddelivering whee a chute into whichthe caps are delivered, and means, movable outwardly from said wheel,for insuring the proper positioning of the caps on said wheel prior totheir delivery to said chute.

12. Feeding mechanism for bottlecapping machines, comprising a rotarycap collecting and delivering wheel, magnetic means for attracting thecaps and retaining them on the periphery of said wheel, and a capositioning gate cooperating with said w eel,

the said gate havlng an opening therein corresponding with the crosssectional shape of machines, comprising a rotary cap collecting anddelivering wheel, magnetic means forattracting the caps and retainingthem on the periphery of said wheel, a yieldingly mounted cappositioning gate cooperating with said Wheel,-'-;the}sa1d gate having anopening therein corresponding with the cross-sectional shape of one ofsaid caps, and

lugs on said wheel adapted to engage said gate for intermittentlyseparating the same from said wheel, as and for the purposeset forth.

15. Feeding mechanism for bottlecapping machines, comprisin a rotary capcollecting and delivering whee a plurality of magnets carried by saidwheel, a casing! in which said wheel is mounted and into which the capsare supplied, a passage being formed be tween said casing and said wheelthrough which the caps are conveyed by said-wheel, a chute leading fromsaid passage, and means 'for stripping the caps from said wheel prior totheir entrance into said chute.

16. Feeding mechanism for bottle capping machines, comprising a rotarycap collecting and delivering whee a plural ty of magnets carried bysaid wheel, a casing in which'said wheel is mounted and into which thecaps are supplied, a passage being formed be-' tween said casing andsaid wheel through which the caps are conveyed'by said wheel, a cappositioning gate at the entrance to said passage, and a chute leadingfrom said passage. 7 I

17. Feeding mechanism for bottle capp ng machines, comprising a rotarycap collecting and delivering wheel, a plurality of radlally disposedmagnets carried by said wheel, a casing in which said wheel'is mountedand into which the caps are supplied, a passage being formed betweensaid casing and said wheel through which the caps are conveyed by saidwheel, a cap positioninggate at the entrance to said passage, the saidgate cooperating with said wheel and having an opening thereincorresponding with the cross-sectional shape'of one of said caps, achute leading from said passage and means for stripping the caps fromsaid Wheelprior to their entrance to said chute.

' 18. Feeding mechanism for bottle capping machines, comprising a rotarycap collecting and delivering wheel having side grooves in theperiphery-thereof, a plurality of radially disposed magnets carried bysaid wheel, a

casing "nil-which the wheel is mounted and into which'the caps aresupplied, a passage being formed between said casing and said wheelthrough which the )caps are-conveyed by said Wheel, a yieldii'fglymounted cap positioning' gate at the entrance to said passage, the saidgate cooperating with said wheel, having an opening thereincorresponding with the cross-sectional shape of one of said caps andhaving projections thereon which fit down into said grooves,

'and lugs in said grooves adapted to engage said projections forintermittently separating said gate from said wheel, as and for thepurpose set forth.

19. Feeding mechanism for bottle capping machines, comprisin .a rotarycap collecting and delivering whee a plurality of radially disposedmagnets carried by said wheel, a casing in which said wheel is mounted,a space or receptacle being formed between the lower part of said Wheeland said easing into which the caps are indiscriminately sup-- plied,and 'a yielding bottom for said space 'or receptacle, as and for thepurpose set forth. I

In witness whereof, I subscribe my signature, in the presence of twoWitnesses.

GEORG KIBKEGAARD.

